In
the space of just two years, Terry Jenkins has transformed himself into one
of the most popular players in world darts but now he is chasing a dream –
to win the ‘big one’ that has eluded him for so long.
‘The Bull’ shot to prominence
with a series of fantastic performances culminating in back-to-back
appearances in the Premier League and five ‘Major’ TV finals.
Not bad for somebody, who for
so long, regarded darts as a sideline and a hobby….but when he started to
take it seriously, Jenkins proved that he is one of the very best in the
business.
“Of course I am disappointed
not to have won one of the big events but I guess that makes me even more
determined to succeed. I have come so close and I know I have the game. It’s
just a case of getting over that final hurdle.”
From October 2006 to October
2007, Jenkins hit the heights – reaching those five ‘Major’ finals, only to
suffer heartache on each occasion.
He lost at the 2006 World
Grand Prix to Phil Taylor, was beaten by ‘The Power’ in the 2007 Premier
League Final, then lost to Raymond Van Barneveld in the final of the Las
Vegas Desert Classic and went down to James Wade at both the World Matchplay
and World Grand Prix in July/October 2007.
“I don’t want to become known
as the nearly man of darts and in all those finals, I ran up against players
who were bang in form,” he said. “There is no point in looking back and
wondering what might have happened. They are all history and I get on with
planning for the next one.”
Jenkins was a full-time
antiques dealer before he established himself at the top of the darts tree
and he still dabbles in a bit of buying and selling these days – but now he
uses the antiques as a welcome distraction from the pressures of life on the
oche.
His success and popularity has
also led to Jenkins becoming a man in demand on the exhibition circuit.
He is the World No.5 and ask
any darts player who they would like to avoid at any tournament - and the
name of Terry Jenkins will be near the top of the list.
The 2008 World Championship
threw up one of the low points of his career, when he missed seven darts to
win his 1st Round match and lost 3-2 to Kirk Shepherd….and of course, the
Unicorn youngster went on to enjoy the week of his life by reaching the
World Final at the Alexandra Palace.
“That was one of the worst
moments of my career but after sulking for a few days, I put the result into
the dustbin of history and moved on!”
I n
that 12 month spell, he pocketed over £100,000 in prize money, including a
record prize money cheque for him of £40,000 for reaching that final of the
2007 Premier League.
Jenkins is a laid-back easy
going character but don’t mistake that for a blasé attitude. He is a proven
winner and he has set his sights on achieving those ambitions.
Those five TV finals in a year
proved this a bull with a rich pedigree! He never got a look in against an
inspired Wade in Blackpool and was always struggling in the Dublin Final,
when he went three sets down…..Jenkins actually came from 3-0 down to beat
John Part in the semi-finals at the WGP but Wade proved a tougher nut to
crack. Although Jenkins did find some form in the final, Wade won it by 6
sets to 3.
He sees the ultimate as the
World Championship….. “I said 20 years ago that I will win it one day and I
was serious when I said it and I still firmly believe that today.”
It is during the last two
years that the name of Terry Jenkins has hit the high notes in the world of
darts, with many tournament victories and countless appearances in semi and
quarter-finals.
He also made the
quarter-finals of the first ever Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, where
he lost a thriller 10-8 to Unicorn stablemate Andy Hamilton
One of the best ‘floor’
players in the business, it took him time to adapt to the bright lights and
big stages of the TV ‘Majors’ but now there is no looking back for the man
from Ledbury in Herefordshire
October 2006 was the defining
moment for Jenkins, when he came from nowhere to snatch a place in the
Premier League……as all his rivals fell by the wayside at the World Grand
Prix, his run to the final was enough to change his career forever.
“In any sport, you need some
luck along the way and I had mine at that tournament. It all fell into place
and I haven’t looked back,” he admitted.
Once he made the Premier
League, he was in need of a new image and along came ‘The Herefordshire
Bull’ and Jenkins now familiar pose of two darts on top of his head – like
the horns of a bull – has earned him cult status with darts fans around the
UK.
“The reaction has been amazing
really….I now get recognised wherever I go and people are calling all the
time to ask me to do exhibitions. It has been a great response,” he said.
Jenkins added: “I am certainly
not resting on my laurels. In the past, people have got into the top four or
five in the world and think they’ve made it…..well, that isn’t the case with
me. I have a reputation to maintain and I have got so much that I want to do
in the sport of darts.”
The best victory of his career
so far came at the 2007 World Matchplay, when he beat Phil Taylor 17-11 in
an epic semi-final. “In many ways, that was the best. I know I lost the
final to James Wade but beating Phil convinced me that those big prizes are
just round the corner.
Away from the big stage, he
has won the Antwerp Open for three years on the spin and during 2007,
Jenkins also won a prestigious Players Championship event in Hayling Island,
as well as losing in the final of two other Players Championship
tournaments.
The 2007 World Championship
saw him reach the quarter-finals, where he lost a nail-biter to Andy
Hamilton and he was kicking himself after throwing away a 5-0 lead to lose
11-10 to Vincent van der Voort in the quarter-finals of the UK Open in
Bolton – but he is destined to win the ‘big ones’.
It all started as a
13-year-old, playing at the Eastnor Club in his hometown Ledbury and several
appearances at county level for Worcestershire soon followed.
His big move to the PDC came
quite by accident…..Jenkins takes up the story: “I was working in my own
furniture shop six days a week. All my friends were telling me to give the
PDC a go but I just didn’t have the time. Then I was given notice to quit
the shop because the lease was about to expire and that made my mind up for
me! I saw it as a big chance to make a living out of darts and looking back,
it was the right decision!”
Married to Jackie, he has
three sons Graham, Carl and Craig……Terry Jenkins is hoping to finally bury
the hoodoo during 2008 and there is nobody in the world of darts who would
begrudge him one of the big titles.
Read Terry's Achievements Here
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